Downward stroke air evacuating jar sealing apparatus



H. A. BILLETTER DOWNWARD STROKE AIR EVACUATING JAR SEALING APPARATUSMarch 2% 194s.

Filed Deo. 31; 1943 iwi l Ill-l- HALTUN A BILLETTER alllllllf l lPatented Mar. 2,o 1948 nowNwARD vsimone Am-Ev-Acnnfrlm-Jait e SEALINGAPPARATUS v v 1 Ilmo-nn Binett; Younsstnwnohie. Apmieatmnmsemm 31, meisemaine artista This invention relatestomethodA andf appara tus forvacuum sealingj containers'such as 'food preserving jars andv cans, 'forexample; It has heretofore been: proposed to-` provide on 'the' top endofthe container'l to be sealed;y ani annular surface against- Wnich' may17e/applied thefouter rim portion of a' lid` or cover and itfhasAalso-been proposalV4 to evacuate the; space atovev the rood in the:container 'and theA ,surface immediately about the lid orf cover itselfpreparatorie toF the final seating: of the" lidI o1r coverfso`V that:upon removalofthe evacuating-V apparatnsrthaatmospherici pressure-.willhold tlneli'd-l firmly oni the container; To insureA proper functioningcitxihis method thef1idiis-norma1ly provided Within-soft pliable ring`orV gasket *which ts: the' annular seating surface4 on' the containerAthereby providingrauid-tightfconnectiom "The Speic methodsheretofore1devised. for effecting the-'above described sealingz'operation haverequiredrv either costlyf'apparatus vor appara;- tus whichisdiicult andcumborsomeito-mariipus late; Itis ac-cordintdy"the*primary,n object ofthe invention toi provide an improve:tand simplied method forevacuatilfleV thefainfromnacontainer immediately prior'tov thenal's'eatingf of afluid tight closure thereon andi improved? andsimplified amiarat'usY for effecting: this m-odemf opera*- tion. Tothisfend'I- provide aunitary and conrpact devicel'whi'cnin use; .ismerely placed orrthe sincc'anir necessity-fior thaeneratonhandling thecontainerris .eliminatedi A iurtherf ohjectfof the invention-yisfzthemrovision of an. improved apparatusfhavingntility'es pointedv*out* above: whiclliis readilyaidaitable:foil* useV in. connection: withpreserving: .jars 'or corrtainers; of diierent: congurationsanddesignarI Tnexabove; and other objects andradvantaees of theinventionwill; become apparent upon; con"- andz the; accompanying drawing-zlwherein; Vthezteeis disclosed certain preferred. embodiments of theinvention. i

Inthedawinezr 2; v sealing;deeicezoonstructedin accordance'with the'principles o'fi'tn'e invention-,1 the view showing the devicebeingfoperatively applied toa preservingfjano' the:MasonP type 'Figure 2regia; fragrne'ntaryI vertical:y section of ahmodiedi form oi'sea-ling:device for use on a presenvilgf'jarfoi the Perfect` seal type, forexvvanplegfand;l

"Figure-'3 isla-.bottom viewr ofi" the apparatus of 101:2 Fig-uren A Inthe drawing, ret'erencefnumeral l0 indicates aicylinnerfhavingfanrupperend wall! l4 and screw threads orf-fits;outersurfacefadjacent its lowerende Az-Ynumberfof:circumferentially'spacedaperdetti tu. above? theyscrew' threads. thereon. Screw Vthreaded onto :the: lower end of the:cylinder l0 membeenavingfa transverse wall I 3 consti- 'toting theeloweif end; wallY of the cylinder I 0. members' iss aisdprovided with adepending mange: which. is"y me general continuation of theouterrsmfface off the'. cylinder H) and; in Figure l tlxisiiange;ehownrat Ui; is elongated so as. to reanhpasta the: tlireads on thev jarI5 and engage the;- annul'airtshoulden lr6; provided on jars of theltype illustrated To the'lower'end of the flange M1 is'secureda'f soft?pliabley ring: H Which with the; upperi'surfacefof: the shoulder i5'forms a tiuidi-tiglitlconnectio'rr.. I

Iti-shouldzbeobserved. thatfthe flange i4" is of siioient length'. to:provide space intermediate the upperannuiar surface-13 of the jar andthe horizontaly wail iik for the loose. reception ofthejansealingclosnre or lid.. This lid;V indicated by referencer numerali9, may' be a thin disk. of .metal havingia-.depressedcenter portiontopro- `vi'defant annular/recess in'vvhich isa-secured a softpliable-z'sealing` ring 2m The: outer peripheral wail'of-.theqdepressedjportion also serves as a cuide vto*insure:tin-:rmfopeiseating, of the lid on .Extend-ings downwardly-A fromy the bottom'EvSurial''e of thefwa'li: l are: av number of segmental bosses 2iandfextending upwardly from id'ieaoentenofzfther wail; I el is l an'elongatedl borse 22 nreieiablyihtcaral:withathe-wall. I3..-

Slideablein; thea'cylinder` ifs a= piston 2% to whichI s= connected? afplungerv 24 extending up :through anVv opening in the top end wall H ofdiefcylinden i0. Af close fit is provided between vsideration:of'chef-following detailed: spceicadfionv a0 thanplungerr Z4 and the'aperture thieueh Wall fhliso; asrtovxrdnimize leakage ofair,'Eesthefupzper'endfofplunger'zifis fastened ali-nab 25 theupper'surfacef owhichtogether with the upper -endf-ofrthev-1p1nngen24 iscurved' slightly to lit .Figurarisaxveirticaisectiontl'mouzhavacimmfa-.acomfettablwaeainstitha palm of the hand-ofthe person usingthe apparatus. Depending from the center portion of the piston 2 3 andpreferably integral therewith is a sleeve 26 which is adapted to have aclose sliding t over and about the outer surface of the boss 22.Extending longitudinally through the boss 22 and the wall I3 is a bore21 and another passageway 28 located partly in the plunger 24 providescommunication between the upper end of the cylinder formed by the sleeve26 and the space in cylinder I above the piston 23. Encircling thesleeve 26 and the boss 22 is a coil spring 29 the function of which isto normally bias'the plunger piston 23 to uppermost position.

Since a close ilt is provided between the plunger piston 23 reaching thelower end of its stroke and the subsequent release of the downwardpressure applied to the knob 25, the spring 29 begins to move the piston23 upwardly thus reversing the flow of air in the passageway 21 and,

` as explained above, this back pressure, as well as 24 and 24 and theaperture in the top'end wall II of the cylinder I0 as well 'as betweenthe piston 23 and the cylinder I0 downward movement ofthe piston in thecylinderv will decrease the pressure in the space above the piston 23causing air to be drawn into the space through the passageways 2'I and28. If now the apparatus is placed on a jar or other container with thesealing ring 11 maintained in fluid-tight engagement therewith, thesuction created by the expanding chamber caused by the downward movementof the piston 23 will withdraw a substantial part .of the air containedWithin the jar or other container, such withdrawn air passing up throughthe openings 21 and 28 and into the expanding chamber above the piston23.

In employing the apparatus described above to effect the vacuum sealingof the jar I5 the lid I9 is first laid loosely in proper position on theljar after which the assembled apparatus de-` scribed is placed on thejar in the position shown in the drawing. Next, the palm of the hand islaid on the knob 25 and by a quick downward thrust the air within thejar I5 above the food or other contents therein and within the housing.

formed by the wall I3 and ange I4 will be evacuated into the cylinder IDabove the downwardly moving piston 23 through the passageways 21 and 28as explained above. The air displaced below the piston 23 escapeslthrough ports I2. During this operation the lid I9 acts as a valve andraises slightly to allow the air to escape from within the jar I5. Thespaces circumferentially intermediate the segmental bosses 2I insure thecontinuance of communication between the space within the jar and thebore 21 even though the lid I9 is drawn up into tight engagement withthe lower surface of the bosses 2| as shown in the drawing. Immediatelyupon cessation of movement of the piston 23 and the consequent cessationof outflow of air from the jar I5 the lid I9 seats by force of gravityand back pressure on the surface I8 of the jar so as to preserve thevacuum created in the jar. The spring 29 now returns the piston 23 toits upper or initial starting position and the atmospheric pressure thencoming against the outer surface of the lid I9 firmly holds the lid onthe jara',

It should be observed'thatl uponthe application of downward force to theknob 25 the apparatus will be urged downwardly asa Whole thus bringingthe sealing ring- I1 into pressure engagement with the shoulder I5 ofthe jar I5 thus effecting an eiicient seal against the entrance ofoutside air into the member I4. As the piston 23 moves downwardlyagainst the force of the spring 29, the air within the jar andwithin'the member I4 is sucked into the space in-'chamber I9 abovepiston 23 thus at least partially evacuat- `ing the air from within thejar I5. Upon the the force of gravity, will quickly seat the lid I9 onthe surface I8 of the jar I5. The withdrawal of external downward forceon the apparatus reduces the seal at the ring I1 so that if the pressuredeveloped in member I4 immediately outside of the lid I9 by continuedupward movement of `the piston 23 in the cylinder I0 becomes greaterthan atmospheric pressure, the excess air will bleed oif under the ringI1. Thus, the apparatus acts as an efficient air suction pump and anumber of successive downward movements of the plunger and piston may beapplied to Vfurther evacuate the jar if desired. In the normal andconvenient operation of the device, such successive downward thrusts areapplied rapidly in succession. This rapid operation can be accomplishedonly by withdrawing al1 outwardly applied pressure during the returnmovement of the plunger and piston and the mode of operation concerningthe release of the excess air as explained'above is accomplished.

VAn important feature of the invention is the obtaining of a high degreeof Vacuum by downward movement of the plunger. This arrangement enablesthe required connection between the apparatus and the jar or containerto be sealed to be effected simply by seating the apparatus on the jaror container. Further, upon downward pressure being applied to theapparatus through the plunger and piston the apparatus is automaticallybrought into pressure engagement with the jayl or container thusautomatically effecting an eiiicient seal between the rjar or containerand the evacuating housing against the ingress of air. In this mannerthe device'is made highly efcient in operation.

Another important advantage of the invention is the facility with whichthe apparatus may be modilied in the hands of the user to operateefficiently on preserving jars of different types. In Figure 2, forexample, there is illustrated a modified form of jar 30 which is incommon use and this jar is provided with a wide flat annular top surface3|. For this jar the sealing lid, indicated by reference numeral 32 inFigure 2, may be of such diameter that its outer edge occupies onlyabout half the radial width of the surface 3|, thus allowing the outerperipheral portion of the surface 3| to be engaged by the lower end ofthe evacuating housing of the assembled apparatus. In modifying theapparatus of Figure 1 for use in connection with jars of the type shownin Figure 2 the housing or member including the flange I3 is replaced bya member or housing which is generally similar but which has a muchshortened flange 33. It should be observed that in any of theembodiments of the invention the space within the housing of theapparatus which is in communication with the space within the jar'duringthe evacuating process is of minimum Volume so that a high degree ofvacuum can be obtained from the rst downward thrust on the plunger ofthe apparatus and in most cases a single downward thrust will besuincient. This depends, of course, on the extent to which the jar isfilled with solid 0r liquid materials.

It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved method ofevacuating a jar or container during the sealing thereof and that I haveprovided improved apparatus for accomplishing this object. The apparatusis simple and compact in design and may readily be economically producedin large quantities principally by casting in metal or plastics and isrugged and durable in use. The advantages of evacuating and sealing thejar or container while the same and its contents are still quite hot arewell recognized in the art and the nature and mode of operation of thepresent method and apparatus enables the evacuating and sealing to beaccomplished in a very short interval of time while eliminating anynecessity for holding or otherwise manipulating the hot jar orcontainer. It is only necessary to place the latter Von a solid surfaceafter which the lid and evacuating apparatus can be set on in the manneroutlined above.

The above specically described embodiments of the invention should beconsidered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit `or scope of the invention.Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determiningthe scope of the invention. n

What I claim is:

1. Vacuum sealing apparatus comprising in combination a uid-tighthousing having an annular lower end adapted to be brought intofluid-tight engagement with an annular surface on the upper portion of ajar to be sealed, said housing being adapted to contain a sealing lidfor said jar, a cylinder connected to and extending upwardly from saidhousing, said cylinder having an upper en d wall, a piston in saidcylinder, a plunger having an upper palm engageable surface slideablymounted in said upper end wall and connected to said piston, and meansproviding communication between the space within said housing and thespace in said cylinder above said piston whereby upon downward movementof said plunger the air within said housing and jar will be evacuated.

2. Vacuum sealing apparatus comprising in combination a fluid-tighthousing having an upper wall and an annular lower end adapted to bebrought into uid-tight engagement with an annular surface on the upperportion of a jar to be sealed, said housing being adapted to contain ajar sealing lid, a cylinder connected to and extending upwardly fromsaid housing, said cylinder having an upper end wall, a piston in saidcylinder, a plunger having an upper palm engageable surface slideablymounted in said upper end wall and connected to said cylinder, saidhousing having an upwardly extending boss, said piston having a sleeveslideably received over said boss, an opening extending vlongitudinallythrough said radially inward of said surface comprising in combination afluid-tight housing having a depending flange adapted to rest influid-tight engagement on said surface, a cylinder connected to andextending upwardly from said housing, said cylinder having a top endwall, a manually engageable plunger extending through said wall, apiston in said cylinder connected with said plunger, and means providingcommunication between the space within said housing and the space insaid cylinder above said piston whereby upon downward movement of saidplunger the air within said housing and container will be evacuated.

4. Evacuating apparatus for use with an opentopped container and aself-sealing lid for closing and sealing said container comprising incombination a fluid impervious housing having a boss and upper wall ofsaid housing, and means providing communication between the space withinsaid sleeve and the space within said cylinder above said piston wherebydownward movement of said plunger and piston results in evacuation ofthe air within said housing and jar.

3. Apparatus of the character described for use with a container havingan upwardly facing annular surface and a free seating closure memberadapted to seat over an opening insaid container flange adapted to bebrought into Huid-tight engagement with a surface of said containeroutwardly of said lid, a fluid pump carried by said housing andincluding a member reciprocable in a vertical direction and operableupon quick downward movement to evacuate the space below and about saidlid, said member having a single upper surface of appreciable area forbeing comfortably engaged by the palm of a users hand and having a pathof movement generally coincident with the vertical axis of saidcontainer, the arrangement being such that the downward thrust appliedto said member simultaneously increases the pressure of said engagementand effects said evacuation.

5. Evacuating apparatus for use with an open-topped container and aself-sealing lid for closing and sealing said container comprising incombination a fluid impervious housing having a flange adapted to bebrought into fluid-tight engagement with a surface of said containeroutwardly of said lid, a fluid pump comprising relatively slideablepiston and cylinder members one of which is rigidly connected with saidhousing and the other of which is provided with a single circularconcaved but generally horizontal upper surface of appreciable areapositioned centrally above said container and being adapted to becomfortably engaged by the palm of a users hand whereby said othermember may be rapidly moved downwardly, spring means for moving saidother member upwardly, and a passageway in the said one of said membersinterconnecting the space Within said flange with the space within thatend of the cylinder which is increased in volume upon downward movementof said other member.

HALTON A. BELLETTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name s Date 13,291 Elliot July 17, 185529,582 Gill Aug. 14, 1860 817,538 Wixon Apr. 10, 1906 1,013,230 StauntonJan. 2, 1912 1,356,224 Sager Oct. 19, 1920 1,414,283 Jewell Apr. 25,1922 2,339,791 Mahlke Jan. 25, 1944

